Temple plea for elephant procession: Kerala HC says SC-fixed registration deadline can’t be extended by HC or govt
The Kerala High Court ruled that neither the state government nor the court itself can extend the Supreme Court-mandated registration deadline for temples using elephants in processions. The ruling impacts a petition from a temple seeking to bypass these strict management rules.
Why it matters
This highlights the judiciary's role in enforcing animal welfare regulations and the limits of lower court authority regarding Supreme Court directives.
Temple plea for elephant procession: Kerala HC says SC-fixed registration deadline can’t be extended by HC or govt left https://th-i.thgim.com/public/news/national/kerala/55xwke/article71603987.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Kerala%20HC%20%20%20-%20R%20K%20Nithin.jpg Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas holds that without any extension of the time granted by the Supreme Court, it was not proper for the High Court to direct a delayed registration or even to direct the consideration of an application for time extension KOCHI Neither the High Court nor the State government can extend the timeline fixed by the Supreme Court for temples and devaswoms to register with the District Committee constituted under the Kerala Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2012, the Kerala High Court has observed. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas opined that without any extension of the time granted by the Supreme Court, it was not proper for the High Court to direct a delayed registration or even to direct the consideration of an application for time extension.
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